Conservatory Installation and Repair
New conservatories built onto the house, and repairs to existing ones, including leaking roofs, failed glazing seals, worn frames and full roof replacements.
See our conservatory installation and repair page05 / 15 Construction & conversions
Conservatories and Garden Buildings in London
A conservatory or a well-built garden building gives you extra space without the cost of an extension: a bright room to sit in, a summer house for warmer evenings, a home office at the end of the garden, or a solid shed that keeps tools and bikes dry for years. We are outbuilding builders and garden building installers who install, build and repair all of these, on a base that will last.
Because our team includes electricians and decorators, we can also run power and lighting to a garden building and finish it inside, so it is ready to use from day one.
- Free survey
- Itemised written quote
- One project manager
- Certified sign-off
04Our Conservatory and Garden Building Services
06Steps from survey to sign-off
11Topics covered on this page
£0For your survey or quote
Our services
Our Conservatory and Garden Building Services
Summer House Construction
Timber summer houses built on a solid base, from a simple garden retreat to a room with power and lighting that you can use most of the year.
See our summer house construction page
Garden Shed Construction
Sheds built from scratch to your size and layout, for awkward corners, sloping gardens or when an off-the-shelf shed will not fit or will not last.
See our garden shed construction page
Shed Installation and Repair
Assembly and installation of a shed you have bought, on a proper level base, plus repairs to roofs, floors, doors and windows on existing sheds.
See our shed installation and repair pageNot sure which?
We recommend the right option at your free survey
Every house is different — we check what suits yours before you commit to anything.
Get a free quoteWhich is right
Which Garden Building Is Right for You?
| You want | The option we usually suggest |
|---|---|
| A bright room attached to the house | A conservatory |
| A space to relax or work in the garden | A summer house |
| Storage in an awkward space, or built to last | A bespoke garden shed |
| Storage using a shed you have already bought | Shed installation on a proper base |
| A fully insulated, heated room with plumbing | A house extension may suit you better |
If you need a room that works all year round as part of the house, see our house extensions service.
What you need to know
Do You Need Planning Permission for an Outbuilding?
Most garden buildings for houses in England can be built under permitted development, without a planning application, if they meet these limits:
- Use: The building must be used for purposes incidental to the house, such as storage, a hobby room, a home office or a gym. It cannot be used as separate living accommodation.
- Position: It must not be in front of the main wall of the house facing the road.
- Height: Single storey, with eaves no higher than 2.5 metres. The overall height must be no more than 4 metres with a dual-pitched roof, or 3 metres for other roof types.
- Near a boundary: Within 2 metres of a boundary, the whole building must be no more than 2.5 metres high.
- Garden coverage: Outbuildings and extensions together must not cover more than half the land around the original house.
- No raised platforms: No verandas, balconies or decking more than 30 centimetres high.
Permitted development does not apply to flats and maisonettes. It is restricted for listed buildings, in conservation areas (where outbuildings to the side of the house need permission) and where an Article 4 direction applies. A conservatory attached to the house counts as an extension, so it follows the extension limits instead. We check which rules apply at the survey.
Size
How Big Can an Outbuilding Be Without Planning Permission?
There is no fixed floor area limit for a house outside protected areas. The size is controlled by the height limits, the rule that outbuildings and extensions together must not cover more than half the garden, and the position on the plot. In practice, the 2.5 metre height limit near a boundary is what most often decides the design of a garden building in a London garden.
What you need to know
Do Garden Buildings Need Building Regulations?
For detached outbuildings with no sleeping accommodation, the general rules are:
- Under 15 square metres of floor area: Building regulations do not normally apply.
- 15 to 30 square metres: Building regulations do not normally apply if the building is at least 1 metre from any boundary, or is built mainly of non-combustible materials.
- Over 30 square metres: Building regulations approval is needed.
A conservatory is normally exempt if it is at ground level, under 30 square metres, separated from the house by external-quality walls, doors or windows, has its own heating controls rather than an extension of the house heating, and meets the safety glazing rules. If the separating doors are removed, it becomes an extension and needs approval.
Electrical work in any garden building must still meet the wiring regulations and be certified, whatever its size. We install power, lighting and sockets through our domestic electrical installation service.
Sleeping
Can You Sleep in an Outbuilding?
Not under permitted development. A garden building used as a bedroom, or as an annexe with its own kitchen and bathroom, goes beyond the "incidental" use allowed and needs planning permission. It also needs building regulations approval, covering fire safety, insulation, ventilation and escape. If you want a garden room guests can sleep in, we will explain the route at the survey.
Bases and power
The Base and the Power Supply
The base decides how long a garden building lasts. Depending on the size and use, we lay a concrete slab, a paved base or a timber frame on supports, level and with drainage, so the floor stays dry and the frame does not twist. For summer houses and garden offices, we run armoured cable from the house to a separate consumer unit with RCD protection, then add sockets, lighting and heating as needed.
Cost
What Affects the Cost of a Garden Building?
Every project is priced after a free survey, with a written, itemised quote. The main factors are:
01
Type and size
A shed installation costs least; a bespoke summer house or a conservatory costs more.
02
Materials
Timber species and thickness, glazing, roof covering and cladding.
03
Base
The size and type of base, and whether the ground needs levelling.
04
Insulation
Needed if you want to use the building all year.
05
Power and lighting
The length of the cable run and what is connected.
06
Access
Narrow side passages or access only through the house.
07
Repairs
For existing conservatories and sheds, the extent of the damage.
No guesswork: you receive a written, itemised quote after your free survey, with payments staged against clear points in the work.
Process
Our Process
Every stage is planned before we start, with one project manager from survey to sign-off.
- 01
Free survey
we look at the space, the ground, access and boundaries, and talk through how you will use the building.
- 02
Design and quote
we confirm the size, materials and position, and check planning and building regulations.
- 03
Base and groundwork
the ground is cleared and levelled, and the base is laid.
- 04
Build or installation
the building or conservatory is built or installed and made weathertight.
- 05
Power and finishing
electrics, insulation, lining, painting or treatment as agreed.
- 06
Handover
electrical certificates where applicable, and advice on maintenance.
Areas
Garden Buildings Across London
We build and install garden buildings across London, with a focus on east and south-east London. Orpington's larger gardens suit summer houses and garden offices, while the smaller gardens of East Ham, Ilford, Barking and Dagenham often need a bespoke shed or a compact garden room designed around the 2.5 metre boundary rule. See our pages for builders in Orpington, builders in East Ham, builders in Ilford, builders in Barking and builders in Dagenham, or all the areas we cover.
FAQs
Garden Building FAQs
Can't see your question? Call or WhatsApp us — we're happy to help before you book.
Q1
Do I need planning permission for an outbuilding?
Usually not, for a house, if it is single storey, not in front of the house, no higher than 2.5 metres at the eaves (or overall within 2 metres of a boundary), within the overall height limits and used for purposes incidental to the house. Flats, listed buildings, conservation areas and Article 4 areas have extra controls.
Q2
How big can an outbuilding be without planning permission?
There is no fixed floor area limit outside protected areas. The limits are on height, position and coverage: outbuildings and extensions together must not cover more than half the land around the original house.
Q3
Do garden buildings need building regulations?
Not usually for detached outbuildings under 15 square metres, or between 15 and 30 square metres if they are at least 1 metre from a boundary or built of non-combustible materials, as long as nobody sleeps in them. Larger buildings need approval, and electrical work must always be certified.
Q4
Can you sleep in an outbuilding?
Not under permitted development. Using a garden building as a bedroom or self-contained annexe needs planning permission and building regulations approval.
Q5
Can I use a garden building as a home office?
Yes. A home office is an incidental use, so it usually falls within permitted development. We can insulate it and install power, lighting, data and heating so it is comfortable all year.
Q6
Do you repair existing conservatories and sheds?
Yes. We repair leaking conservatory roofs, failed glazing and worn frames, and fix shed roofs, floors, doors and windows. We tell you honestly if a repair or a replacement is better value.
One team, every trade
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Next step
Get Your Free Garden Building Quote
Tell us what you have in mind and send us a photo of the space. We will visit, check the planning position and send you a written, itemised quote.
Send us photos of your garden on WhatsApp to get started, or use our contact form.